Spray particle collector



L. M. COOPER SPRAY PARTICLE COLLECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1947 j l/ l//// May 30 195G L. M. cooPER SPRAY PARTICLE COLLECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1947 Patented May 30, 1950 1; .I'EEl) STATES PATENT orator SBRAY PARTICLE COLLECTOR ration of Delaware App cation July 24, 1947... ser alnh a. 763.2%

7 Claims. 1

The present invention. relates to a method and apparatus for evaluating the character of a spray of fluid, or any other material, such as a finely divided solid material, projected from a spray nozzle or a jet.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and means whereby the particle size and pattern of any given spray may be rapidly and visually determined. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and, means whereby a substantially instantaneously recorded impression may be obtained of the condition existing in any transverse plane through, a spray issuing from a jet or spray nozzle.

In the production; and use of sprays of fluids and other materials capable of being broken up into streams of finely divided particles by being forced through a restricted opening, it is extremely important that the particle size and distribution as well as other characteristics of the spray be readily determinable. These characteristics vary according to spray orifice size,

spray pressure, type of material: being sprayed, etc. To. obtain optimum results, adiustmentsof h s r er? mad durin operation, on theibasis of the characteristics observed.

In the past, it has been customary to evaluate spray characteristics by visual inspection, or by methods such as gauging the time required to atomize a unit quantity of a given material, or the measurement of precipitation at a fixed distance from a spray nozzle, or within a specified time period. The effectiveness of such methods depends entirely upon the experience, judgment, and ability of individuals, and the results obtained vary accordingly. By means of the present invention, spray evaluation, and consequently adjustment for optimum effect may be reduced to a previously unobtainable exactness.

The nature and objects of the invention may be fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section, from front to back, of a suitable apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the front end with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior, showing the slide holder.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral l designates a carrier container or case for the mechanism of the device. This case is provided with a sized orifice la, in its forward end, and a hand hole lb at the opposite end. A cover or door Ic normally closes the hand hole.

As shown, the operating mechanism. com-. prises apair of opposed pulleys or rollers 2a and 2b disposed. onv shafts laterally of the case at the upper and lower corners of'the forward, end 012 the case. A thin, flexible shutter belt 3-, having a, rectangular opening or slot 3a disposedfor the orifice opening. may be applied so as to;

frictionally engage the outer surface of the belt. The upper end of belt 3 passes, through a;

o te st p. m m er 51 se r d later y of he;

case at its upper end, and is securely gripped, by clip member 6. The member 6;v is provided t p t n us, Ea. ex ending, pwardl h u h an eyon he pper; nd Q the case. y W y f: a slot Id therein, A earwar lyx: nd QQki en ce 6bis, als rov d d on 01111 6, The cocking-piece may be slotted as shown, onprovided with a downwardly extendedlip; to. The

engage a scarlug, in; on a trigger arm 1. r g rm is n vo all mount d. n. the. se. by means of a pin 8, transversely of the case, and the arm extends rearwardly through the case by way of a slotted opening I e. A spring :9 normally maintains the arm 1 in a cooked position.

At the lower end of the belt 3 a clamp member It provides for engagement between the belt 3 and the operating spring II, which in turn engages a tension adjusting bolt 12 extending through a fixed support 13. Tension of the spring is adjusted by means of a wing nut I 4 on the bolt 12, which nut engages the support l3.

At a point immediately to the rear of the orifice Ia, and spaced therefrom just sufliciently to permit passage of the belt 3 between a re movable plate holder I5 is suspended transversely of the case I by means such as lugs IS. The plate holder I5 is provided with upper and lower grooved ways or channels l5a and l5b into which may be fitted a plate or slide member H. The channel portions I5a and [5b are preferably of such thickness at their forward edges as to permit sliding contact with the belt 3, while preventing contact of the belt with the face of the plate H. The numeral l8 designates a spray nozzle.

In operation, the operating lug 6a is drawn rearwardly until the cooking piece engages the sear la, placing the spring ll under tension. By means of the clamp 6, the belt is thus drawn rearwardly into the upper part of the case, with the slot 3a raised to a point above the orifice Ia and slide H. With the mechanism thus cocked, the case is inserted into the spray from nozzle I8 at right angles to the line of discharge, and to any point in the spray for which the required data is desired. The trigger 'i is then depressed to release the cocking piece 6b from the sear 1a, and the spring I l then draws the belt downwardly past the orifice la and plate l1. As the belt 3 moves downwardly, the slotted portion 30!. momentarily exposes the plate IT to impingement of spray particles from the jet 18, which record thereon their characteristic size and pattern. With liquid sprays, a plate of plain glass or other material such as plastic, metal, wood or the like may be utilized, but with other fluids and with finely divided solids, it is preferable that the plate ll, formed or" any similar material, be coated with an adhesive, or an impressionable material such as gelatin.

The invention has been set forth with reference to a specific form of apparatus and a method of operation, merely for the purpose of illustration, and is not to be considered as limited thereto, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A' method of visual determination of the particle size and pattern of material discharging from a spray nozzle, comprising introducing into the spray of material a masked spray particle collecting element, and momentarily unmasking said element, exposing a surface thereof to impact of the spray, whereby said surface may receive and retain an exact imprint of the character and material content of the spray in the area of exposure.

2. Apparatus for visual determination of the particle size and pattern of material discharging from a spray nozzle, comprising a carrier container having an orifice in one wall thereof, a movable shutter interiorly of the container, normally covering the orifice, a removable holder element supported within said container rearwardly of the shutter, coincidental with said orifice, a particle collecting slide member carried. by

said holder element, and means for activating said shutter to expose the surface of said slide member momentarily to a spray entering through said orifice.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the movable shutter is of the focal plane type.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the slide member is a glass slide coated with an impressionable coating material.

5. Apparatus for visual determination of the particle size and pattern of material dischargin from a spray nozzle, comprising a case, spray particle collecting element removably supported within said case, an orifice opening into said case toward said element, a shutter closure for said orifice normally masking said element, shutter actuating means associated with said case connected to and operable to actuate said shutter momentarily to open the orifice and unmask said element, exposing the element to impact of material discharged from a spray nozzle through said orifice, and a surface coating on said element of an impressionable surface coating material adapted to receive and retain an impression of the spray of material discharged from the nozzle through said orifice.

6. Apparatusaccording to claim 5 in which the surface coating on said spray particle collecting element is an impressionable gelatinous material.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which 1e surface coating on said spray particle collecting element is an impressionable adhesive material.

LYLE M. COOPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

